Aaron Glenn unveils Jets' plans for playing starters throughout preseason

Every year, entering the NFL's preseason, every fan of every team wonders just how much their starters will be playing in the three "dress rehearsals" before the start of the regular season. New York Jets fans are no different.

In 2025, head coach Aaron Glenn had his starters play a decent amount. Then-starting quarterback Justin Fields and several other key Jets starters appeared in the team's first two games against the Green Bay Packers and New York Giants.

In their third preseason game, against the Philadelphia Eagles, no notable starter played at all, and the game was dedicated to the second-and third-stringers fighting for spots on the final 53-man roster.

It seems like Glenn will be taking a similar approach heading into the 2026 preseason and wants to get his starters some run in a live-game setting.

Aaron Glenn says New York Jets starters will get reps throughout the preseason

Glenn met with the media following Day 1 of joint practice with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and was asked about his plans to play starters on Friday night's preseason opener against Tampa Bay.

The second-year head coach unveiled his thought process and revealed that he expects the first-team offense and defense to get some run against the Buccaneers.

"I think it's important for all guys to play. Now, there's a science behind this also, as far as having joint practices and trying to get the guys, at least throughout the preseason, 25 to 30 reps. I'm talking about all three games, and I don't know how I'll divvy that up."

Glenn explained that the team has a plan to have their players on a controlled ramp-up period that includes this week's joint practice and their three preseason matchups with the Bucs, Steelers, and Giants.

He said that "the risk of injury actually goes down" in the first part of the season when players get early action in August, and added that he's a "big believer" in their plan.

With no more joint practices on the schedule following this week's stint with Tampa Bay, it makes sense that Glenn would want his starters to get some action against external competition.

It seems like we'll get to see Geno Smith, Garrett Wilson, and David Bailey suited up at MetLife Stadium on Friday, an exciting opportunity for plenty of Jets fans to see their most anticipated players either live on TV or in person in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

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